Kurdish War: Invasions and Civil Wars

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December 14, 2007: Turkish military vehicle have been reported northern Iraq near the Iraqi town of Zakho, specifically the Kani Massi area. This followed Turkish reports that the Turkish Army had "taken control" of several PKK "positions" near the border. Neither of these reports confirm a Turkish military operation in Zakho, but Turkish forces do cross the border in this area to monitor PKK movements. Turkish artillery has also shelled alleged PKK bases near Zakho.

December 11, 2007: A Turkish soldier died in a firefight in the Kobili Mountains, in Sirnak Province, near the "tri-border" area where the borders of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq meet .Six PKK rebels died in the battle.

December 8, 2007: There appears to be some PKK leadership issues, specifically a struggle between PKK leaders Fehman Hussein and Murat Karayilan. Hussein (also spelled Huseyin) is a Syrian Kurd. Karayilan was born in Turkey. Karayilan is definitely a senior leader in the PKK. Whether the ill-defined leadership fight creates a permanent split in the PKK remains to be seen. Many Turkish Kurds are interested in exploring a new political settlement with the Turkish government. Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP, the party of Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan), got a lot of votes in Kurd regions during the last election. The Syrian dictatorship, however, doesn't need Kurd votes. Fehman Hussein is identified in some reports as the head of the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), the Kurdish radical group which often claims responsibility for bombings in western Turkey and Istanbul.

December 7, 2007: Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged PKK rebels to surrender to Turkish security units and accept amnesty. The amnesty deal promises a pardon to PKK rebels who surrender voluntarily. There is another catch, however: the rebels must not have engaged in terrorist activities. This is one reason PKK fighters have doubts about the amnesty proposal. Turkey says the PKK is a terrorist organization. Does any activity on behalf of the organization then constitute participation in terrorist activities?

December 1, 2007: Turkish forces had killed 50 to 60 PKK rebels in a battle near the Iraq-Turkey border. This followed reports that Turkish special forces troops had been operating in northern Iraq and had attacked a PKK position in Iraq. There was also a report that the operation was supported by artillery strikes. Interestingly enough, two Iraqi government sources denied that Turkish troops had entered northern Iraq

 

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